My Adoption Story - Part 7

[A blogger recounts her journey in trying to adopt a child from Pakistan as a single woman. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.] 

When I started writing this blog, I had anticipated an entirely different story unfolding. I envisioned sharing my adoption journey with you, from preparations in Canada, to visits to the orphanage in Karachi, Pakistan, and my eventual return home with my child. Certainly, it was going to be a story with its fair share of ups and downs - and even a touch of drama. The story that unfolded, however, caught me by surprise. It has been one of the few times in my life when I have been completely blindsided. I had no idea that adoption from Pakistan would be banned. As a hopeful parent trapped in the adoption pipeline, I (as well as many others) have worked tirelessly to have the adoption ban lifted. We have connected with our MPPs and MPs, many of whom have helped to argue our case. We have had an article published in a national newspaper, questioning the validity of Canada's ban.

I have spent many late nights, emailing lawyers in Pakistan, sending updates to Ottawa and keeping the conversation alive on social networks. The Pakistani government has stepped forward and claimed that they, too, have no issues with Canadians adopting from Pakistan, and that their Guardianship and Wards Act (that is implemented in-country) allows for legally appointed guardians to take children to Canada and legalize adoptions on Canadian soil. An article was also published in a national Pakistani newspaper espousing this fact.

Although the ban has been proven to carry no legal weight, we hear nothing from our government. Not an email, not a phone call, not a word. Naively, I had expected the ban to be lifted within days. I have overestimated our government. Ottawa remains silent, and we remain buried beneath the weight of the adoption ban. To say that I am slightly annoyed would be an understatement. I had my heart set on adopting a baby from Pakistan, and now I wait and wonder. The question is how long do I wait? How long can I wait? Do I start to investigate other possible countries? Few are open to adoption, the waiting times are long and many make no allowance for singles. Do I have a biological child instead? These are questions that I ask daily, and at this point I do not have an answer. As soon as I decide on a new path, I second-guess myself and end up circling back to where I started. Right now, I am living in a place of uncertainly and am afraid to make the wrong choice. I am also aware that time is running out, and I must make a choice. What will my choice be? I listen closely to my intuition, and pray the answer comes.